A New School Year

This past week started a new school year - Jeremy back at college and home school starting for the others. College dorms have changed a lot in 24 years. Dorms are coed and fast food chains are right next door on campus. I traveled to Huntsville Saturday to take Jeremy some books and clothes that were left behind and spent a little time with him before going back home. In four weeks he will be 21. A grown man but oh so much to learn. His head and heart is in a better place than mine was 37 years ago, but he is just as bullheaded as I was at his age. He will be be fine though.

The other six kids are doing fine and have reluctantly started school. Christina technically never stopped, she just cut back a little. She is doing much better than she was one year ago. She is an amazing cook and lately has cooked about one meal a day for the family. She has good days and bad days, but fortunately the good days outweigh the bad. She is so talented and is our go-to photographer and proof reader.

Sarah and Polina were in two plays this summer which kept them (and Dawn) busy going back and forth to rehearsals. They too are growing up and turning into young women. It is funny to watch them perform. Sarah absolutely loves theater and enjoys playing different roles. I am very proud of her and all she has accomplished. Polina loves acting, but her first love seems to be ballet. She will flitter around the house twirling and such. Her birth mom would be proud of her and the young woman she has turned into. I try to share her accomplishments with her aunt in Pokrovka by sending photos and e-mails. She is a good woman and I try as best as I can to maintain contact with her.

Nastya and Dima are still loud and are typical 7 & 8 year old kids. They have a lot of energy, they fuss with each other and get into trouble. It has been three years since they got home and Nastya still acts motherly toward Dima even though she is the younger one. Dima is adapting to having a younger brother - slowly. He is still learning he has to share, but he is enjoying have a little brother to rough house with and to share a room with.

Alexander had an appointment with a surgeon at Emery in Atlanta last week. Unlike other doctors, he seemed to genuinely concerned about what was/is best for Alexander. He wants to have an MRI and another audiogram completed before he makes a final decision. Right now he is leaning toward NOT doing a cochlear implant because of Alexander's age. Overall, Alexander is adjusting well. Once again, there are good days and bad days. He loves playing with his siblings. Although he has gotten much better, he sometimes lashes out at Nastya with a punch. Although he is small, those little fist pack a lot of power. Dawn is working on teaching him qued speech and some ESL. He is a quick learner and just blows me away at times.

This fall I will be traveling to southeast Siberia to complete some missions work with orphans. I have a busy itinerary and hope to be able to share some photos when I return. The past month I have been stopping by churches to leave reference material on the ministry in hopes of getting some financial support. Due to the economy, this has been pretty tough. Times are hard on churches and I understand their reluctance to inviting someone in asking for financial assistance. I try to explain that everything I raise goes toward orphan support/relief. Some are polite and explain that they are booked right now and that I should call back in 2012. Right now I am financing all the expense of what we do. That tab is pretty high, but God is good and He provides all that we need. In about six weeks, I will be contacting churches to see if they will collect a Love Offering to go towards purchasing Christmas presents for kids at the orphanages. I set a goal in May to raise $10,000 and I am not going to reduce it. These children are precious to the Lord and I know He will provide for them.

God Bless -